Europe expelled its Jews - now, it wants to decide where Jews may live in Israel - opinion
And after a thousand years of expulsions, restrictions, and bloodshed, the answer from Europe cannot once again be to tell Jews where they are allowed to live.
For centuries, European governments held the power to decide where Jews were allowed to live, what they could own, and when they had to leave. England expelled its Jewish population in 1290, and France repeated the act multiple times. Jewish property was confiscated, communities were uprooted, and Jews learned that acceptance could vanish when political tides changed. This history was not to be ignored.
The recent expulsion of Jewish communities in the Land of Israel by Britain, France, and Canada has struck a nerve. Britain, having governed the region in 1929, failed to protect the Jewish community in Hebron, leading to a massacre of 67 Jews. France, too, faces growing antisemitism and threats. Canada, aware of the economic consequences of trade pressure, has now decided to use sanctions against Jewish communities in the region.
The common thread among these actions is the attempt to dictate where Jews may reside and operate, reminiscent of a bygone era of European Jewish governance. The situation calls for a reflection on the lessons learned from past actions and their consequences.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
